Spool spindle journal mounting



1958 G. A. SPENCER ETAL 2,849,196

SPOOL SPINDLE JOURNAL MOUNTING Filed April IN VEN T0R.$ 550555fi-SFf/ZEE BY HHEFLUE-FEZL WMZWUJ SPOOL SPINDLE JOURNAL MOUNTING GeorgeA. Spencer, Akron, Ohio, and Harold R. Sell, Pottstown, Pa., assignorsto The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application April 8, 1954, Serial No. 421,900

Claims. (Cl. 242-130) The invention relates generally to filament spoolsand devices for level winding filament thereon. More particularly, theinvention relates to a filament spool construction having improvedmounting means and improved level wind mechanism.

The improved construction of the present invention is adapted for use ina machine having a plurality of spools for continuously winding filamentsuch as extruded plastic under constant tension. A machine of this typeis disclosed in the copending application of George A. Spencer andClarence F. Poetter, Serial No. 421,832, filed April 8, .1954, andentitled Apparatus For Continuously Tensioning And Winding Filaments.

ln winding filaments under constant tension on a plurality of spools itis important that each filament be prevented from tangling with otherfilaments, and from getting in between the rotating parts of the spoolspindle and the stationary housing therefor which would interfere withthe constant tension applied to the filament. Moreover, it is necessarythat the traverse or level wind mechanism for each spool function tolevel wind the filament on the spool accurately at all times in order tomaintain constant tension on the filament as it is wound.

it is an object of the present invention to provide novel mounting meansfor the spool spindle, and novel traverse mechanism cooperating withsaid spool, whereby entanglement of the filament is prevented andconstant tension on the filament may be accomplished.

Specifically, it is an object to provide an improved spindle and housingconstruction for the spool which prevents any filament from enteringbetween the stationary and rotating parts thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved traverse mechanism which iseasily adjusted in relation to the spool, and which is adaptedaccurately to level wind the filament on the spool over long periods ofuse.

These and other objects are attained by the simple and inexpensiveconstructions comprising the present invention, a preferred embodimentof which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing anddescribed in detail herein. Various modifications and changes in detailsof construction may be made within the scope of the invention defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through the spool table of afilament winding apparatus showing two spools mounted in side-by-siderelation, and the traverse devices for the spools;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1, showing themounting for the spool spindle; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33, Fig. 1, showing theconstruction and mounting of the traverse pulleys.

The spool table preferably includes angular supporting legs and a tabletop consisting of transverse bars 11 resting on the legs 10 andsupporting plates 12 forming the top surface of the table. Two parallelrows of spools arranged longitudinally of the table may be carried onited States Patent 2,849,196 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 the table top, andone spool of each row is indicated in chain lines at 13A and 13B.

The spindle housings indicated generally at 14A and 14B aresubstantially identical, except that the cover 15B may have an upperextension 16B for supporting the spool 13B on spindle 17B at a slightlyhigher level than spool 13A, as shown, although both spools may be atthe same elevation if desired. As shown in Fig. 2, the spindle housing14A has a cap 15A with an upper extension or boss 16A secured to thespindle 17A by a set screw 18, and the cap is supported on an enlargedshoulder 19 on the spindle. Immediately below the shoulder 19 is abearing portion 20 and spaced below said portion 20 is a similar bearingportion 21.

The bearing portions 20 and 21 are journaled in antifriction ballbearings 22 and 23 respectively, which are mounted in a cylindricalhousing member 24 having an annular flange 25 supported on the table topplates 12. The lower bearing 23 abuts a lock washer 26 engaged by a nut27 threaded on the spindle, and the outer race of bearing 23 is abuttedby a bottom cap 28 which is secured to the lower end of housing member24 by screws 29. The lower end 17A of spindle 17A extends below thebottom cap 2% and is driven by a suitable constant horsepower motor (notshown) adapted for winding filament on the spool 13A at constanttension. Preferably each spindle is driven by an individual constanthorsepower motor.

An annular lubrication plate 30 fits around the shoul der 19 of thespindle on top of housing member 24, and

has an annular groove 31 containing an oil wick 32 for lubricating theball bearings below. A lubricant supply tube 33 may be screwed into theside of plate 30 and communicates with the Wick 32.

An annular cap plate 35 rests on top of the plate 30 and surrounds theshoulder 19, and the plates 30 and 35 may be secured to the top ofhousing member 24 by screws 36. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer diameterof cap plate 35 is substantially larger than the outer diam eter ofplate 30 which is equal to the outer diameter of housing 24, so that thecap plate provides an overhanging annular flange or shoulder around thetop of the spindle housing. The top cover 15A has a downturned annularflange 37 which completely surrounds and covers the shoulder of plate35.

Accordingly, when the spindle 17A and cover 15A are rotated to rotatethe spool 13A and wind filament thereon, any broken ends or parts offilament which drop below the spool are deflected below cap plate 35 bythe flange 37 of the cap. Should any filament wrap around the stationaryhousing 24- and plate 30, any tendency it might have to work upwardlybetween the housing and the rotating cover is prevented by theoverhanging shoulder around the rim of plate 35. If broken filamentswere permitted to enter between the stationary and rotating parts of thespindle housing they would soon interfere with the maintenance ofconstant tension on the filament being wound on spool 13A, which mightresult in slackness in the filament coming to the traverse mechanism andconsequent entanglement with other filaments.

Referring to the traverse mechanisms for the spools 13A and 1313, theseinclude pulleys 40 mounted on vertical rods 41A and 41B extendingslidably through the table top plates 12. Rod 41B is somewhat longerthan rod 41A so that the pulley for spool 13B traverses that spool atits higher elevation. 'The lower ends of rods 41A and 41B are secured bynuts 42 to the ends of a horizontal connecting bar 43 below the plates12, and the bar is secured to the top of a beam 44 which extendslongitudinally of the table and supports similar bars one for each pairof spools. The beam may be moved up and down by a hydraulic cylinder orthe like to cause of itsrod 41A or 41B by means of an adjusting screw45, which has a knurled head 46 and a shank 47 is threaded into an axialbore 48 in the rod. A lock nut 49 is screwed on the threaded shank 47and abuts the top of the rod 41A to lock the screw 45 in adjustedposition. The bottom of the lock nut is preferably beveled as shown. Thepulley 40 is preferably journaled on the screw 45 immediately under thehead 46 by means of an anti-friction bearing 50 which is preferably heldin place by a snap ring 51.

By loosening the lock nut 49 and turning the head 46 of the screw, thepulley 40 can be adjusted so that it moves up and down with the beam 44in register with its spool 13A, and the lock nut when screwed intoabutment with the top of the rod locks the pulley in adjusted position.Moreover, the pulleys are easily removed and replaced in a similarmanner.

Each pulley groove has a substantially rectangular sharp U shape incross section so that the filament can ride in one corner or the otherof the groove. As all of the filaments F normally are brought down tothe pulleys 40 from a higher elevation than the tops of the spools, thefilaments ride in the upper corners of the pulley grooves as indicatedin the drawings. Thus the filament is maintained in an exact positionrelative to the spool, resulting in accurately level winding thefilament on the spool as the pulley moves up and down, in contrast tothe relatively inaccurate level winding which would be accomplished by apulley having a rounded groove allowing movement or slipping of thefilament across the groove.

Furthermore, the rectangular groove pulley gives twice the wear of a Vgroove pulley, because when one corner of the rectangular groove pulleybecomes worn, it requires little time and etfort to remove the pulleyand invert it on the adjusting screw, so that the filament will ride inthe opposite corner. I

The improved filament spooling construction of the present invention issimple and inexpensive to construct and repair, is adapted to prevententanglement or other interference with maintaining constant tension onthe filament as it is wound, and accomplishes accurate level winding ofthe filament on the spool over long periods of use.

What is claimed is:

1. Filament spooling construction including a housing, a spool spindlejournaled in said housing, a cap plate secured to one end of the housingand forming an annular shoulder projecting radially beyond the exteriorof said housing, and a cover secured to the spindle exte- 4 riorly ofsaid top plate and having an annular flange covering said annularshoulder and terminating flush with the bottom of said shoulder.

2. Filament spooling construction including a vertical housing, a spoolspindle journaled in said housing, a cap plate secured to the top of thehousing and forming an annular shoulder overhanging the exterior of thehousing, and a cover secured to the spindle above the cap plate andhaving an annular flange covering said annular shoulder and terminatingflush with the bottom of said shoulder.

3. Filament spooling construction including a vertical housing, a spoolspindle journaled in said housing, a cap plate secured to the top of thehousing and forming an annular shoulder overhanging the exterior of thehousing, a cover secured directly to the spindle above the cap plate,said cover plate having a downturned annular flange covering saidshoulder and terminating flush with the bottom of said shoulder, and anupper extension on said cover for supporting a spool at a fixed height.

4. Filament spooling construction including a vertical housing, a spoolspindle journaled in said housing and having an enlarged shoulder, a capplate secured to the top of the housing and surrounding said shoulder,said cap plate overhanging the exterior of said housing around itsperiphery, and a cover secured directly to the spindle above the capplate and abutting said enlarged shoulder, said cover havinga downturnedannular flange covering the periphery of said cap plate and terminatingflush with the bottom surface thereof.

5. Filament spooling construction including a vertical housing, a spoolspindle journaled in said housing and having an enlarged shoulder, a capplate secured to the top of the housing and surrounding said shoulder,said cap plate overhanging the exterior of said housing around itsperiphery, a cover secured directly to the spindle above the cap plateand abutting said enlarged shoulder, said cover having a downturnedannular flange covering the periphery of said cap plate and terminatingflush with the bottom surface thereof, and an upper extension on saidcover for supporting a spool at a fixed height.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,500,947 Lessard July 8, 1924 1,615,161 Bouvier Jan. 18, 1927 1,643,914Albaeh Sept. 27, 1927 1,834,749 Traxel Dec. 1, 1931 2,461,855 TornbergFeb. 15, 1949 2,556,674 Cabot et a1 June 12, 1951 2,657,524 Westall Nov.3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 380,029 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1932

